Mackenzie

"Es tan bueno volver a L.A!" I hugged my mom tight, "Yo te he extrañado mucho Mamá!" {It feels so good to be back in Los Angeles! I've missed you so much!} "Aw, te extrañe tambien, mi amor." Mom hugged me tighter, lifting me off the ground a little. {Aw, I've missed you so much as well, my love!} She looked at me as we pulled away. "Look at you, MZ! You've changed in the past two years!" I laughed. "I know, I know. You too! You look... leaner." Wasn't mom eating well? "I decided to lose some weight," Mom said distractedly. Lose some weight? Mom wasn't fat before I left. In fact, she looked like a teen mom.  "Mom—" I started to say. "How was Spain?" she asked instead, smiling. I sighed. "Spain was like it has always been." Hold up. I know you're probably confused. First things first, I'm Mackenzie Starr. We used to live in another house as one happy family here in Los Angeles before mom and dad got separated. Dad moved to Spain to work, and mom decided to stay here. I go to Spain to stay with my dad from time to time. It wasn't always easy, having to change environments, having to meet new friends, and changing schools every time. It was tedious and tiring, but I still loved my parents very much, and I loved to be a part of their lives, no matter where they lived. So, I had to go to Spain. I was there for two years, but I was back in Los Angeles. My home. I felt better here. More comfortable too. Most of my friends were here, and I'd always go back to my school, where I have my friends. "¿Ha cambiado algo en L.A?" I asked. {Has something changed in LA?} "¿MZ, por favor, podemos hablar en ingles?" Mom said, half-smiling. {MZ, please, can we speak English?} I laughed at her. She wasn't all that good in speaking Spanish, and I loved using that to intimidate her. "Alright, alright," I said. "L.A hasn't changed much... It's still beautiful. It's still busy. It's still home," Mom said as she looked around. Our house wasn't all that big. It wasn't like all those large houses in the movies. I couldn't compare it to dad's house in Spain. It was massive. After dad left, mom couldn't afford to pay the bills, so we moved to a smaller house. I didn't consider it small though. I considered it my home. I had a bed to lie on. We had a dining table to eat on. We had a kitchen. We had three toilets. It wasn't all that bad. "What about Bambi?" I asked. Bambi was my best friend. Always had been. I had known her for almost 6 years. The last time I saw her was two years ago. We were just fourteen. What if she had a new best friend now? I didn't want to think of it. I could tell anything to Bambi—anything at all. She was so bouncy and full of life. "Bambi's fine!" Mom said, "You should see her now, she's all grown up." "Aren't we all?" I smiled. "No. I mean she's changed a lot." I nodded. I didn't know what that meant. And I definitely wanted to find out. We talked while I was in Spain, and I told her I would be coming home today. I lifted one of my boxes and started walking to my room. "I should help you." Mom said as she took a box. "Thanks mom." When we got to my room, I smiled.  Mom dropped my box. "There." She was breathing heavily. "C'mon mom, it was just from the living room. It's not like we have a staircase, besides, that particular box was the lightest." "Are... Are you sure?" She asked, catching her breath. "Yeah." I looked at mom, and something told me to be worried about her. How could she be tired already? I squinted my eyes at her. "I mustn't forget the scones!" She said as she quickly kissed my cheek and ran to the kitchen. I couldn't help but wonder if she was okay. I sighed and shook my head. I entered my room. It was just the same as I left it. Actually, no. I left the room with my clothes scattered all over the floor and my bed unmade. But now, the room looked spotless. I was sure that was mom's handiwork. I started unpacking my things as I threw my hair into a messy bun. I moved the things I got for Bambi aside. I hoped she'd come, really. "Kenzi!" I heard footsteps running to my room. I would recognize the voice anywhere, anytime. It belonged to Bambi. "Bambi!" I ran out of my room and met her at the door of my room. "Kenzi!" She squeezed me in a hug. "I missed you so much!" "Me too, Bambi. But if you continue squeezing me that way, I won't give you what I got for you." She pulled away. "How was Spain?" She smiled at me. "Spain was great!" "And your dad?" "He's good. I missed you so, so much, Bambi! It's been two years!" "I know, right! Two freaking years!" She hugged me again. "Bambi, what did you do to your hair?!" Mom was right. She had changed. "Nothing. Just highlights," she said, smiling and looking around. Bambi was beautiful. With her black hair, which fell down to lower back, her bold brown eyes, and her high cheekbones. She had the perfect body. She was not fat or thin, just like me. Her average height made her look so fun size. I looked at the strands of purple hair. She was prettier. Her face looked bolder. Not like the Bambi that had been crying because Greg said she looked like a fish. "How has Los Angeles been? How about school?" I asked. "School has been fun, and everyone has changed! Adam got expelled because he hacked the school's computer to change his test result. Miss Penny was fired because she was caught sleeping with Mr. Dave—he wasn't fired because he was innocent. Get this, she drugged him! Tristan broke up with Delilah because she was being a b***h. Randy's FWB is Chantel. Edward's girlfriend is Lenore..." Bambi went on and on telling fun stories I missed while living another life. Adam? Of course this would happen! His older brother was a fraudster. Oh, sweet Miss Penny. Mr.Dave was the most attractive teacher. He taught P.E. During the first session, his class was filled with girls. Why would Tristan go out with Delilah in the first place? Her name alone should’ve stopped him. FWB? Chantel? She used to rock pigtails and braces, right? Now, she was giving it to a guy freely. Wow, her beast was let loose. I flushed concerning the news about Edward. I used to have a MASSIVE crush on him. He was my friend, but I had that crush on him. He was so hot but innocent. He would talk to me after class or during lunch, ask me how I was doing and ask if I had any problems with Geometry. He would tell me I could come to him if I had a hard time understanding any of my subjects. He was smart, but I never went to him for help. Not because I knew it, but because I couldn't take the risk of being too close to him, and that made me study harder. Till I became a straight A student.  Lenore wasn't bad. I liked her. So I guess I was happy for both of them.  Please note: the crush is gone. I looked back at Bambi who was still talking "...And then, Tanner McCann joined our school, and all the other girls passed out. It was like a dollar sign just came to life, it was like seeing the literal meaning of a Greek god!" "Who is he?" "He joined our school two years ago. The same year you left for Spain. He's wealthy as f**k and hotter than the sun, trust me. The funny thing is: he's never dated anyone. But girls hang around him a lot." "So he's gay or what?" I asked dumbly. "He's not! He doesn't just let girls come too close." "Oh, I see." I nodded. "He's best friends with Edward and Jesse." "Okay, I do remember Jesse." I mumbled to myself. "You should see him now, he's so…" her voice trailed off dreamily, then she added excitedly, "And he's single." I laughed, "How's Ryan?!" She shrugged. "He's good! I wonder why he didn't come. Anyway, tell me. Did you meet any guy in Spain?" "Uh... Yeah, I did." "Did you two hook up?" She asked, wiggling her eyebrows. "No!" I chuckled, "He was just my friend." "Fair." She nodded, "So, are you coming to school on Monday?" "Of course, I have to." "People will be so thrilled to see you're back!" "Aren't they used to it already? They see Mackenzie this year, they don't see her the other." I laughed. "When are you going to Spain again?" Bambi asked. "I have no idea, but it won't be until I have graduated from here." I answered. "So, are you going to Spain for college?" She asked,and I smiled at the disappointment in her eyes "I didn't say that. I want to do college here in America, but I will definitely go to Spain to see dad." I answered. "Oh," she threw her arms around me, "I'm just so glad you're back." "Me too, Bambi, me too."